Ugadi, sometimes spelled Yugadi, is the New Year’s Day celebration for the Deccan region of India and is celebrated by the Andhra Pradesh and Larnatak people. The Deccan region consists of the large Deccan Plateau that makes up a majority of the southern part of India. The region covers eight of India’s thirty-two states. The term Ugadi stems from the Sanskrit words of “yuga,” meaning age, and “adi,” which means beginning. Together they mean “the beginning of a new age.”

The Ugadi 2014 celebration is the New Year according to the lunisolar calendar and occurs on different days each year. Lunisolar calendars rely on the position of the moon and sun, which is how months and days are decided. It is important to note that lunisolar and solar calendars are different. Solar calendars rely solely on the position of the sun to determine months and days. Examples of lunisolar calendars are the Hebrew, Buddhist, Hindu, and Tibetan calendars.

Traditionally, members of the society begin the Ugadi day with ritualistic oil baths, prayers, and the consumption of neem leaves.